Hydrofoils



March 5, 1968 A. A.-' BERINGER 3,371,638

IH-YDROIFOILS Filed Nov. 7, 1966 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ANTON A. BERINGER BYM, flown ATTOR NEYS I D I: Egg I LLLI r 1 I2 i m LB 6 a Q I J KI as |a l fl 19a l9 l9 v 9 20 2O: 9a 20; 2 J y K L M 'N o P o March 5,1968 A. A. IBERINGE'R 3,371,638

HYDROFOILS 'F'il'ed Nov. 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A B c D E F c H F 26ias 2s 23g 28 24 A B c I D E 24; F 6 Q I 27 FIE? v if

INVENTOR 1 ANTON A. BERINGER BYM. 5 M

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,371,638 HYDROFOILS Anton A. Beringer,S. 7238 Lochcrest Blvd., Muskego, Wis. 53150 Filed Nov. 7, 1966, Ser.No. 592,377 4 Claims. (Cl. 114- -66.5)

My invention relates to hydrofoils, and more particularly to a pontoontype of foil for watercraft.

The prime object of my invention is to provide an improved hydrofoil forwatercraft.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed that is light in weight, and provided with curvilinearchannels to assist lifting the bow of the craft while it is traversingthe surface of the water.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a pontoon type ofhydrofoil that may be easily attached to, and made a part of, variedtypes of watercraft.

A still further object is to provide a device that may be made in variedlengths to fit the craft, and may be made to support a rudder forming apart thereof.

The device described, illustrated, and claimed herein, is designed to bea part of the craft, which craft may be equipped with wheels that areretractable for conveying the craft on land.

It is simple in construction and highly efiicient for the purpose forwhich it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent asthe description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a conventional watercraft equipped with thehydrofoils constituting my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front view of the craft shown in FIGURES 1 and2,equipped with the hydrofoils;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of a modified type of hydrofoil;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the modified type of hydrofoil shown in FIGURE4;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the device shown in FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is a composite view of the hydrofoil shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and6, showing cross-sectional views taken at the lines A to I indicated inFIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a composite view of the hydrofoil shown in the assembly inFIGURES 1 and 2, and showing crosssectional views taken at the lines Ito Q inclusive in FIG- URE 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and referring specifically now to the same, thecharacter 10 generally designates a pair of spaced hydrofoils attachedto the watercraft (see FIGURES 1, 2 and 3), 11, in any eflicient manner.The hydrofoils may be constructed of any light weight relatively rigidmaterial such as fibre glass or the like. The watercraft 11 is shownwith a bow 12, and is shown equiped with a paddle wheel 13 of anyconventional design, and actuated by a motor generally shown as 14. Thewatercraft 11 should be taken as representative of many varied types ofboats to which hydrofoils of the present invention may be applied.

The watercraft 11 is shown equipped with a windshield 15 and seats 16for the operator and passengers.

The hydrofoils shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, are shown in variouscross-sections indicated by the characters I to Q inclusive in thecomposite FIGURE 8 and also indicated in FIGURE 2, while the hydrofoilsshown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, are shown in various cross-sectionsindicated by the characters A to I inclusive in the composite FIG- URE7.

By referring to FIGURE 2, and the various cross-sections shown in FIGURE8, it will 'be noted that the hydrofoil 10 is formed with a generallyconical end 17, and an upwardly convex upper surface 18 which acts as anattaching surface (see FIGURE 3) to the hull of the craft 11. The lowerportions of the sides are fluted at 19 (see K to N), which flutes extendlongitudinally and terminate into a lower radial surface 20 (see 0 toQ).'The stern end of the foil has a rudder portion 21.

The flutes 19 of FIGURES 1-3 and 8 are formed to extend on oppositesides of the keel-like lower medial portion 19a. The upper surface ofthese flutes is inclined downwardly from the bow to a rearward portionto a point where they are totally downwardly directed as is indicated inthe cross sections'O, P, and Q. These upper surfaces of the flutes facedownwardly and outwardly in the forward portions of the foils asindicated at K, L, M, and N.

The effect of the disposition of the flutes is to provide lift as thecraft passes over the water. The particular shape of the flutes createsthe greatest lifting force at the rear portions thereof which tends tocounteract the tendency of the bow of the craft to lift at high speeds.

The modified type of hydrofoil 10, shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, and incross section in FIGURE 7, has a bow end 22, which is generally conicalin contour. A top rib 23 may extend for a substantial portion of thelength of the foil to aid in attaching the foil.

The bottom of the hydrofoil of the modified type, terminates in a keelshown as 24, and shown in various contours by the characters A to Iinclusive. The top surface is formed in upwardly convex shape at 25 onboth sides of the top rib 23.

The sides of the hydrofoils shown in FIGURES 4 to 7, inclusive, areprovided with a recessed flute 26 extending longitudinally the entirelength of the unit. The flute 26 terminates in openings 27 as shown as Iin FIGURE 7, in a fin 28 at the rear of the foil.

The flutes 26 of FIGURES 4 to 7, inclusive, are formed to extenddownwardly from a point near the center of the sides of the foil to apoint near the bottoms of the sides as is indicated by the position ofthe recesses 27 in the fin 28. The keel-like central bottom portion ofthe foils in these figures is relatively sharp and well defined at theforward portions of the foils while the angular surfaces which definethe keel 24 spread out progressively from the bow rearwardly so thatthese surfaces become a simple, relatively flat, downwardly convexsurface at the rear portions of the foil.

The effect of this shape of foil also provides a lifting action for thewatercraft while it also provides greater lift at the rear of the craftto thus stabilize the craft and counteract the tendency of the bow torise.

From the above description it will become manifest that the hydrofoilsare attached to the bottom of the watercraft.

Whereas I have shown and described an operative form of the invention,it should be understood that this showing and description thereof shouldbe taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There are manymodifications in and to the invention which will fall within the scopeand spirit thereof and which will be apparent to those skilled in theart. The scope of the inventon should be limited only by the scope ofthe hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hydrofoil for boats and the like including an elongated buoyantbody having a tapered nose portion and shaped to provide a liftingaction when traversing water, said body having recesses on each sidethereof extending from a point near the nose portion of the body to apoint at the end of said body, said recesses being inclined to thelongitudinal axis of the body and extending in a downward direction fromthe forward portion of the body to the rearward portion thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said body has a downwardly facingkeel-like portion in at least the forward portion thereof.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said recesses have upper surfaceswhich are inclined downwardly and outwardly at the forward portion ofthe body and are formed into downwardly concave shapes at the rearwardportion of the body, the contour of the-upper surfaces progressivelychanging from the forward portion of the body to the rearward portionthereof.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said recesses terminate inrearwardly directed openings formed through a member at the rear of thebody.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,023 2/1944 Vidal et a1.114-66.5 XR

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner.

1. A HYDROFOIL FOR BOATS AND THE LIKE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BUOYANTBODY HAVING A TAPERED NOSE PORTION AND SHAPED TO PROVIDE A LIFTINGACTION WHEN TRAVERSING WATER, SAID BODY HAVING RECESSES ON EACH SIDETHEREOF EXTENDING FROM A POINT NEAR THE NOSE PORTION OF THE BODY TO APOINT AT THE END OF SAID BODY, SAID RECESSES BEING INCLINED TO THELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BODY AND EXTENDING IN A DOWN-